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“Although we have different areas of expertise, we all work in academia and are benefited by the insight of our peers.” -Heather “We have a great pool of expertise and experience to work with.” -Jen

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Want to Start Your Own Community of Practice? 1. Find a group of people with a shared interest. 2. Determine how often you want or need to meet. 3. Brainstorm on possible topics, ask for topic leaders and set up a schedule.

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4. Establish a community leader. 5. Decide on a technology platform. 6. Once you get the group up & running, meet several times then EVALUATE the technology and group cohesion. Want to Start Your Own Community of Practice?

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What you Need Headset Skype Account Friends/colleagues names who are on Skype Webcam (optional)

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“The monthly conference call keeps our network connected on a personal level. There is a spontaneous and conversational approach to in-person communication that spurs creativity in a way that formal writing simply does not.” -Heather

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“The size of our group is ideal because of our busy schedules. If it were smaller, those who aren’t as active from time to time would be more noticeable. If it were larger, it would be more difficult to coordinate our calls.” -Karen

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Successful Collaboration 1.Set aside TIME 2. You’re exposed to new ideas on a regular basis 3. Implement new ideas & best practices raised through discussion. 4. Poll for best practices on a given topic

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The possibilities are endless. Groups can be structured around any imaginable library topic! Leadership Assessment Information literacy Collection building What are your ideas?